Solar heater



July 1, 1941.

C. G. ABBOT SOLAR HEATER Filed July '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1e/411@ 6 1 Klima- (Q 6,. .1 Lt FE1 Y I4 o 54'* 14 lY 10 1f-m1( E? 11 i `Z2 f' @11 Gamm, Mm fm.

C. G. ABBOT July 1, 1941.

SOLAR HEATER Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 1, 1941 UNlTEDf STATES' PATENT OFFICE l ySOLAR. HEATER charles G. Abbot, washington, D. c. Application July'z, 193s, serial Np. 211,980 sclaims. (cl. 126-211) This invention relates to heaters and more particularly to heaters deriving their heat energy from solar radiations. Even ymore particularly this invention relates to indirect solar heaters, that is to solar heaters in which the heat collected from solar rays is conveyed some distance from the heat collecting element to the heat utilizing element.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a solar heater in which an optical element designed to concentrate solar rays at a linear focus is preferably mounted with its axis and focal line par-I allel .to the axis of the earth, and has a heater element lying in its focal line, the heater element being lled with a liquid stable at high temperatures and which may be highly absorptive of sun rays. The heater .element is in communication with a. cooker or other heat utilizing element located above the upper end thereof and has a smaller tube located within the heater element, and extending from adjacent the lower end thereof upwardly into the heat utilizing element, so that heat collected by the liquid in the heater element may be carried convectionally into said utilizing element and returned therefrom by gravitation. Said optical element is preferably arranged to rotate about its axis and the focal line of the heater element at a rate equal to the rate of apparent movement of the sun.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel solar heater in which the heat from solar rays is efficiently collected utilizing element.

adjacent the lower end of the heater element into the heat utilizing element to afford a means of return for the cooled liquid from the heat Another object of my invention is to a novel solar heater which may be made of any desired small size without decreasing its eiiciency.

vAnother object of my invention is to provide a novel solar heater which is highly eliicient, compact,` cheap to manufacture, durable, and easily used by the inexperienced.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds.

The solar heater of the present invention is capable of receiving `a variety of expressions in Vmany differing embodiments and a wide range and conveyed some distance from the heat col- I lecting element to the heat utilizing element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel solar heater in which a 'heat absorbing liquid is used to collect solar rays and'by simple and compact provisions is caused to flow by expansion to the heat utilizing element and isv then returned therefrom by gravitation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a solar heater having a novel heater element lying in the focus of the mirror which collects the solar rays.

Another object of my invention is to provide a solar heater with a novel heater element filled with a heat absorbing liquid and having simple and compact means of communication with a heat utilizing element.

Another object of my invention is to provide a solar heater having a novel heater element lying in the focus of a mirror and filled with a heat absorbing liquid, said heater element being in communication with a heat utilizing element and having an internal conduit extending from of sizes. For the purposes of illustration two embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that these two embodiments are shown in the drawings and described hereafter for purposes of illustration only, and are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention, reference being had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the present invention. y

In the laccompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view as seen from the rear of one embodiment of my novel solar heater, showing a solar heater of relatively small size;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with a portion thereof in section to show the relation of the several parts;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail partly in section of a part of Fig. 2 showing the junction of the heater element and heat utilizing element with details of both; and

Figl 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment'of my solar heater in the form of a cooker having a larger cooking capacity than that of the embodiment of Fig. 1. v 1

In these figures, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, I0 is a base rmember of any suitable form and construction, here shown as provided at one end with laterally extending supporting legs II and lI2 and at the other end with legs I3 and I4. Secured to legs I3 and I4 are uprights I4 `and I5 respectively carrying therebetween a shaft or rod I6. Rotatively mounted-on rod I6 are frame'members' I1 and I8.

` Likewise rotatively mounted on rod I6 between the frame members Il and I8 is lmirror support I9. Carried by frame members l1 and I8 is cross rod 20 having rotatively mounted thereon provide an adjustable elevating mechanism for said members |1 and |8, here shown as comprising a sleeve 2| having slidably mounted therein a rod 22 pivotally mounted in the base member I8 at 23 and secured with relation to sleeve 2| by set screws 24. Mounted across frame members |1 and I8-, and partially cut away to receive them, is a platelike frame element 25 fixed in vposition on said frame members I1 and I8 by clamp member 26, which is likewise partially cut away to receive said frame members and secured to plate 25 by bolts or screws 21. Secured to plate 25 by bolts or crvs 28 and lying in the plane thesrgl/issring member 29 circularly cut away at 8 to receive any suitable bearing, preferably a ball or roller bearing. Mirror support I9 is provided with a thrust bearing screw 3| which lies in the center line extendedof the circularly cut away portion 38 of member 29.

Rotatably mounted between mirror support I9 and bearing member 29 is mirror 32 made of any suitable material such as alcoa sheet on an aluminum base, mirror 32 having a concave cylindric form having the formula y2=36:|:. Mirror 32- is reenforcedby backing member 33 and longitudinal strips 34 suitablyv secured thereto and is pro-rfj vided with ends 35 and 36 spaced apart and rigidly held by tie rods 31. End 36 has suitably secured thereto and. outwardly extending therefrom a bearing block 38 designed to engage the bearing screw 3| and provided with the counterweight 39.

End 35 has secured thereto the hollow bearing block 48 designed to rotatably fit within the bearing in cut away portion 38 of bearing member 29. Ends 35 and 36 and bearing blocks 38 and 48 are so shaped and arranged that the focal line of mirror 32 coincides with the axis of rotation of the mirror. Suitably secured to bearing block 48 as by nut 4I is gear 42 designed to be engaged by a gear 43 of a clockwork mechanism 44 secured to plate 25 or bearing member 29 andl provided with control means 45. Clockwork mechanism 44, and gears 42 -and 43 are v.adapted to provide a rotary movement of mirror 32 at the rate of 15 per hour. f

Spanning frame members I1 and |8 are frame members 46 and 48 secured thereto by bolts 41. Secured to one end of frame member 46 is an extension 49, and secured to said extension 49 is a suitable support 58. suitably secured to support 58 is the outer casing 5| of a heat utilizing element assembly, said casing being made 'of any suitable metal such as aluminum and of any suitable size and shape. Secured to the ends of frame member 48 as by bolts or screws 52 and 53 are frame members 54 and 55 respectively passing upwardly through casing 5|. Frame members 54 and 55 are xed in place by braces 56 and 51 respectively. Secured to the ends of frame members 54 and 55 within casing 5| are the supports 58 of the heat utilizing unit. Resting on said supports 58 within casing 5|, and suitably secured thereto as by flanges 59, is the outer casing of what is here shown as a cooker unit 68, preferably made of glass, cylindrical in form, open at the top and having an integral bottom 6|. Mounted within casing 68 is the cooking chamber 62 made non-conducting material passing through a suitable circular opening 61 in casing 5|. Cover 66 has a bottom 61 to which is secured an annular flange 68 adapted to engage the inner wall of the cooking chamber 62 and has a top 69 of suillcient size to overlap the lateral -wall around opening 61 and rest on casing 5| when cover 66 is in place. Any suitable handle 18 may be secured to top 69. A cylindrical partition 1| of suitable insulating material is preferably placed between the top of flange 64 and the underside of the top of casing 5| around the opening 61 and glass wool or other suitable insulating material is packed in the space between casing 6| and casing 68 and partition 1|, the latter keeping the insulating material from entering the cooking chamber 62 when cover 66 is removed. Cylindrical cover 66 is also preferably packed with glass wool or other suitable insulating material.

Sealed to glass casing 68, as by a melted glass seal, and opening into the interior of casing 68 is glass tube 12 transparent to s'olar rays but opaque to rays emitted by bodies at moderate temperatures. Surrounding tube 12 is a larger tube 14 adapted to transmit solar rays and sealed at both ends to tube 12, as at 15, to form an air tight joint therewith. Tubes 12 and 14 pass through a suitably placed orifice 13 in casing 5| and extend through hollow bearing block 48 the length of mirror32,k and terminate in a suitably closed end adjacent the end 36 of mirror 32, the center line of tube 12 coinciding with the axis of rotation -and the focal line of the mirror 32. The closed ends of tubes 12 and 14 abut the end 36 of mirror 32, an annular flange 16 preferably of soft material being suitably secured to end 36 of mirror 32 or block 38 to embrace tube 14 loosely and hold it and tube 12 in place. The space between tube 14 and tube 12 is evacuated. Mounted within tube 12 and extending into container v68, and terminating in an open end adjacent the closed end of tube 12, is a small tube 11 supported in tube 12 in any suitable way.v Tube 12 with its contained tube 11 and the space between container 68 and cooking chamber 62 is nearly filled with a black liquid which is stable at high temperature and highly absorptive of solar rays, sufficient space being left unfilled to allow for an expansion of the liquid when heated of one quarter in volume. To cut down radiation from tube 12 about one fth of its top circumference V may be plated on the outside with suitable metal without deflecting solar rays focussed by mir ror 32.V

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown an embodiment of my solar heater, also shown as a cooker, having a larger cooking capacity than that just described with reference to Figs. 1-3. Such a cooker is preferably provided with suflicient heat carrying liquid and suitable insulation to conserve solarheat for several days of unfavorable weather. As is there shown a suitable outer casing 5| is provided of a size appropriate for receiving the inner steel casing 18, whichl may contain on the order of a barrel of high boiling point liquid, and providing space for suitable insulating material 19. One or more ovens 88 are mounted within casing 18 and open through the side of casing 5| where they are provided with suitably insulated covers 8| removably mounted on casing 5| to allow access to the ovens. In place of the glass tube 12 of the embodiment of Figs. 1-3, a blackened copper tube 82 is here used, said tube opening into container 18 and secured thereto by any suitable sealed connection 83, as for example by means of a highly compressed lead washer. Copper tube 82 is closed at its opposite end, and surrounding copper tube 82, in place of tube 14, is a glass vacuum jacket 84 which may be slipped thereover and supported therefrom in any suitable way. Mounted within copper tube 82 is a smaller glass or metal tube 11 similar to and used for the same purpose as the tube 11 of Figs. 1-3. In this embodiment the liquid in container 18 and tubes 'I1 and 82 need not be absorptive of radiation but may be only stable at high temperatures as is say, cylinder oil.

The present invention may be embodied in solar heaters of a wide variety of sizes andvemployedA for a wide variety of purposes. Not only may the heater be made of a size and capacity suitable for use as a family cooker, as in the embodiment of Fig. 4, or a cooker of smaller capacity as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, but it may be made of sufficiently small sizes to be suitable as atoy, the construction of Figs. 1-3 being particularly useful for this purpose, as it is a safe and yet effective device that may be employed on sunny days as a toy cooker. The glass casing 60 may also be adapted to contain a boiler, preferably a spiral closed copper tube surrounding the cooking oven 62, in which case if preferred the outlet tube may be passed through the heater tube 12 to superheat the vapor formed, and in any event the boiler sopprovided ,may be associated with any suitable form or character of steam driven or operated toys. The heated liquid from the heater element 12 may also be passed through the heater of a refrigerating device before returning in the tube 1l, and the invention may be applied to many other uses, all as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

When using the embodiments of my novel solar heater above described the axis of symmetry of the above described apparatus is placed in a north south direction and the sleeve 2| so positioned on rod 22 as to place the axis of rotation and the focal line of mirror 32 parallel to the axis of the earth. Mirror 32 is thenrotated until it catches the rays of the sun and focuses them on the tube 12 which lies in the focal line of mirror 32. Thereafter the clockwork mechanism 44 is started, rotating mirror 32 at the rate of 15 an hour, moving mirror 32 with the sun as the sun progresses across the heavens and keeping the rays of the sun constantly focused on tube 12. Focusing the suns rays on tube 12 heats the liquid in tube 12, causing the liquid to expand and rise into casing 60 while the cooler liquid from casing 60 flows down tube 'l1 and takes the place of the heated liquid in tube 12, where it in turn is heated and rises into casing 60. Thus a simple and efficient circulating system for the heated and cooled liquid is provided. The temperature of the liquid in casing 60 surrounding the chamber 62 gradually rises as the circulation of the heated liquid continues and the heat therefrom is conducted through the walls of the chamber 62,

where it may be utilized for cooking purposes, converting water into steam if the casing 60 is suitably adapted to contain a boiler, etc.

the heat absorbing liquid in a novel heater element which is simple iny structure and highly effective and efficient in service. It will also lbe apparent that the solar cooker of the present invention is capable of being embodied in a wide range of sizeswithout loss of efiiciency, and it is simple, compact, cheap to manufacture, durable and easily used by the inexperienced.

To those skilled in the'art changes in or modification of the above described embodiments of my invention will -be suggested and may be made without departing from the inventive concept thereof. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for utilizing solar energy of the type wherein a ray absorptive liquid is circulated It will now be apparent that the present invenby convection between heat absorbing means and a reservoir for said liquid in heat-interchanging relationship with heat utilizing means, a heat absorbing element including a pair of tubes one arranged within the other and in communication at one end thereof, vthe outer of said tubes being closed at said end, the other ends of said tubes being open to provide for the inflow and outflow of said liquid, a third tube surrounding the outer of said tubes and sealed thereto adjacent the opposite ends thereof to provide an evacuated space therebetween, a reservoir for said liquid extending labove and in communication with the open ends of both tubes of said pair to maintain said tubes full of said liquid, and means for concentrating solar rays upon said tubes 'to heat said liquid and circulate said liquid convectionally between said reservoir and said tubes.

2. In a device for utilizing solar energy of the type wherein a heat absorptive liquid is circulated by convection between heat absorbing means and a reservoir for said liquid in heat-interchanging relationship with heat utilizing means, a heat absorbing element including a pair of tubes one arranged within the other andin communication at one end thereof, the outer of said tubes being closed at said end, the other ends of saidtubes being open to provide for the inflow and outflow of said liquid, a third 'tube surrounding the outer of said tubes and sealed thereto adjacent the opposite ends thereof to provide an evacuated space therebetween, the outer of said first named tubes and said third tube being formed of glass, a reservoir for said liquid extending above and in communication with the open ends of both tubes of said pair to maintain said tubes full of said liquid, and means for concentrating solar rays upon said tubes to heat said liquid and circulate said liquid convectionally between said reservoir and said tubes.

3. In a device for utilizing solar energy of the type wherein a heat absorptive liquid is circulated by convection between heat absorbing means and a reservoir for said liquid in heatinterchanging relationship with heat utilizing means, a heat absorbing element including a pair of tubes one arranged within thel other and in communication at one end thereof, the outer of said tubes being closed at said end, the other ends of said tubes being open to provide for the inflow and outflow of said liquid, a third tube surrounding the outer of said tubes and sealed thereto adjacent the opposite ends thereof to provide an evacuated space therebetween, the outer of said rst named tubes being of blackened metal and said third tube being of transparent maby `convection between a ray absorbing means and a reservoir for said liquid in heat-interchanging relationship with heat utilizing means, a ray absorbing element including a double walled tubeihaving its walls transparent and having an evacuated space between its walls, the inner of said walls containing said ray absorptlve liquid, a tube communicating with the space within said inner wall, a-reservoir for said liquid ex-y tending above and in communication with the space within said inner wall and with said last- `named tube, 'and means for concentrating solar rays upon said double Walled tub'e to heat said liquid. f

5. In a self-contained unit for utilizingsolar 4energy of the type wherein a heat absorptive liquid is circulated by convection between heat absorbing means and a reservoir for said liquid in heat-interchanging relationship with heat utilizing means, a unitary frame, a concave cyl' indric mirror mounted in said frame for rotation around its linear focus as an axis, means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said mirror for rotating the same, a heat absorbing element mounted within said mirror in the linear focus thereof and including a pair of tubes arranged one within the other and in communication at one end thereof, the outer of said tubes being closed atsaid end, the other .ends of said tubes being open to provide for the iniiow and outilow of said liquid, a thirdI tube providing an evacuated space around the outer oi said tubes, a reservoir for heat absorptive liquid extending above and in communication with both tubes of said pair, said reservoir being entirely supported by said frame, and means also supported by said frame and associated with said reservoir for utilizing the heat of the liquid therein.

CHARLES G. ABBOT. 

